At the very moment the children of Israel were walking through the waters, they sang.  Their singing took place as they were fleeing the Egyptians.  They sang to God even though they did not yet know if they would survive.  Their singing was not one of celebration but instead an act of profound faith.

The prayerbook’s words matter. We are taught to focus on its phrases. While they may not appear as tangible as the animal sacrifices of old, they are what we offer. We grasp the prayerbooks in our hands and offer blessings and prayers.

Leaders must be above any suspicion of personal gain. They must avoid even the appearance of gaining personal profit from their public service. If leaders expect people to follow them then their decision making must be transparent. People must believe their leaders have the people’s best interests at heart.

Every time I visit Israel I come away with a renewed sense of hope.  When I sit here reading the newspaper or watching the news, it is easy to despair of the situation.  There, in Israel, people are understandably nervous about the future and even afraid what might happen next, but the devotion to neighbor, the sense of family is extraordinary. 

The Sabbath is the opportunity to let go of our everyday concerns.  It is a day on which we ignore the struggles of our weekday lives.  We are instructed (commanded!) to remove the troubles of the world from our thoughts and concerns. 

I still choose Zionism and Jewish sovereignty in this violent world that too often wishes us harm. But this year I am heeding Purim’s reminder that power often comes with violence done with our own hands and in our own name.